Gemeindeordnung

Gemeindeordnung is a term used in German-speaking countries for the legal framework that governs the establishment, organization and operation of municipalities. It is typically enacted as state law and provides the basic rules for how local government is structured, how decisions are made, and how public administration is conducted. The exact title and scope can vary by state, with some states referring to it as Gemeindeordnung, Kommunalordnung or a similar regulation.

A Gemeindeordnung normally covers core elements of local government: the organizational forms (municipal council or city council, executive bodies, and often committees), the election and term of office of local representatives and the chief executive (mayor or lord mayor), and the procedures for meetings, agendas and resolutions. It also regulates the administration of the municipality, civil service rules, budgeting and accounting, procurement, and the management of local property and public services. Planning, zoning and building regulations, and the scope of local public authority are typically included. Many state GO provisions also address citizen participation, such as petitions, referenda, or other participatory instruments where provided by law.

Relation to other law: a Gemeindeordnung operates within the constitutional framework and state statutes. Municipal powers are derived from the state constitution and state law, and the GO must not contradict higher legal norms. Variants exist between states, reflecting different administrative traditions, but the GO remains the standard reference for local self-government and daily municipal governance.